Back to a Routine

In my last post I mentioned that I was going to talk more in depth concerning certain subjects; however, I intend to save a more deep and critical analysis of my observations for a time when I’m no longer in the country (I’m not worried about censors, but the topics I wish to write about are still sensitive).

Now that I’ve fully recovered from that vile assault on my immune system, life is returning back to its normal self in China.  I am again attending classes by day, and prepping for more classes by night. Truly, a thrilling cycle…though admittedly I have had some leisure time, and enjoy the routine since I haven’t had a consistent schedule in quite some time.

I’ve tried to keep up with my rereading of the Hobbit so I’ll be finished before the movie comes out.  I cannot express how much I enjoy leisure time, though it will soon disappear entirely once I start working on my Capstone project.  

As a physical therapy student, I figured I ought at least to attempt to learn something related to health sciences while on this trip.  I intend on working on a research paper discussing acupuncture and how it can be used as an alternative form of treatment for certain diseases or disabilities. Although I haven’t selected which diseases or disabilities to focus on, I am certain of the topic.  Now I just have to do research and write an abstract before the due date sneaks up on me…

After our return from Qinghai, many of the students have become eager in preparing for our next extended vacation.  We are given a period of about a week and a half at the end of this month for independent travel.

Although I want to travel to Shanghai and Hong Kong at some point or another with other students in this program, I intend on spending my independent travel period staying in the dorm and writing.  This sounds like a hoot and a half, I know, but I have always wanted to write a book, but have always been too busy to just dedicate several days to just sitting down and writing. [If you want to know more about the book I want to write, too bad, you’ll just have to wait till it’s published. In summary, I want to write an epic commensurate to, but different from, the Lord of the Rings, and have been formulating ideas for said book(s) over the past five or so years.]

Some of my friends are traveling to Thailand. I would like to have accompanied them, or to travel to see a friend of mine who is studying abroad in Japan this semester, but I lack the funds for either.  Donations are welcome and appreciated, and hell, I’d even write you a big’ol thank you note online to commemorate your philanthropy.

We went to the Forbidden City this past weekend.  Although this was the number one spectacle on my list before coming to China, once we arrived, I noticed it was somewhat similar to the rest of all of China’s other architecture.  There were some galleries that we could have seen, but our tickets only allowed us in certain areas.  I would say the best part of seeing the Forbidden City was seeing it from a height, as the buildings look alike in all of the courtyards.  It was still impressive due to its size, and had a nice garden in the middle.

The highlight of the trip occurred while we were walking out to our bus right outside the main entrance.  A man carrying a black trash bag was trying to sell us mysterious wares. He started off saying the statues he was selling were 180 kuai, but as soon as I told him I only had 20 in my pocket, he dropped his price immediately. I could not have found a better deal.  Spoiler alert: older brother of mine, this is where I got your present lol.  I honestly suspect the goods were stolen and he was trying to get rid of them as fast as possible, however, I’m not complaining because I purchased something for a pretty decent price.

On a more personal note, last week I was suffering from homesickness, but seemed to have temporarily filled the void for the time being with American food (no mother, not with ethanol), and by watching episodes of the kids’ show Avatar the Last Airbender.